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Chavez boasts US invasion will `bite the dust' Caracas, Venezuela _ Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told thousands of visiting students that if US forces were to invade the South American country, they would be soundly defeated. The US government has strongly denied Mr Chavez's claims that it is considering military action against Cuba's closest ally in the Americas. But Mr Chavez said late on Monday that the US government, which ``won't stop caressing the idea of invading Cuba or invading Venezuela'', should be warned of the consequences. ``If someday they get the crazy idea of coming to invade us, we'll make them bite the dust defending the freedom of our land,'' Mr Chavez said to applause. He spoke during the opening ceremony of a world youth festival bringing together student delegations from across the world and convened under the slogan ``Against Imperialism and War''. Mr Chavez called the United States the ``most savage, cruel and murderous empire that has existed in the history of the world''. The Venezuelan leader said ``socialism is the only path'', and told the students the collective goal is to ``save a world threatened by the voracity of US imperialism''. Earlier, the students waved flags, danced in traditional dress, and held signs praising socialism, Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Ernesto ``Che'' Guevara. More than 300 students from the United States shouted out their disapproval of US President George W. Bush, chanting ``Get out Bush!'' Other students chanted: ``Bush, fascist _ you're a terrorist!'' Some 15,000 youths from 144 countries travelled to Venezuela for the week-long festival and conference, organisers said. Mr Chavez wore a red shirt like many of the students, and embraced delegation leaders as their groups marched past. The ceremony was held in Venezuela's military headquarters in Caracas. |
